Elderly Kildare man faces sentencing for sexual assault
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A MAN facing a possible amputation of his foot will be sentenced in April for a sexual assault in Co Kildare, after the judge gave time to the injured party to prepare her victim impact statement (VIS).
When the case was called behind closed doors in Naas District Court recently, barrister Richard Wixted explained his client’s slight delay, saying: “He has some mobility issues.” When the defendant finally arrived on crutches, Mr Wixted confirmed “he has pleaded guilty” to the offence which occurred in a named shop in a named town in the county on 13 April 2023.
“This year or next for sentence?” asked Judge Desmond Zaidan.
When Sergeant Mary Meade for the state indicated that she had not yet received a VIS from the injured party, the judge set a date of 22 April for conclusion.
The sergeant then gave a brief outline of the details to remind the judge.
“On 13 April 2023, the defendant entered [named premises] and purchased some items. He walked past the injured party and rubbed a sheet of paper along the top of her thighs. She was fully clothed, and was wearing tights and a skirt.
“The contact was entirely outside the clothes,” she said.
“CCTV?” asked the judge, and when the sergeant confirmed there was, he added: “I want to see that to see if it falls into the lower or serious bracket.”
“But it’s still sexual assault,” he confirmed.
The judge then enquired about the health of the defendant.
“He has had long-standing issues going back 40 years, and may have to have his foot amputated,” revealed Mr Wixted.
On hearing this, Judge Zaidan also ordered a medical report on the health of the defendant to be prepared in time for the 22 April sentencing hearing.
